Systems and methods for controlling illumination sources
View Patent ↗Provided are methods and systems for controlling the conversion of data inputs to a computer-based light system into lighting control signals. The methods and systems include facilities for controlling a nonlinear relationship between data inputs and lighting control signal ouputs. The nonlinear relationship may be programmed to account for varying responses of the viewer of a light source to different light source intensities.
1. A method of providing a control signal for a light, comprising:
accessing a control module for generating an output control signal to control the output of a light;
providing a conversion module for converting a data input to the output control signal;
determining the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light; and
converting data inputs to output control signals in a nonlinear relationship to account for the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light.
2. A method of claim 1 , wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.
3. A method of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
4. A method of claim 1 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.
5. A method of claim 1 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the light is an LED.
7. A method of claim 1 , wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.
8. A method of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
9. A method of claim 7 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
10. A method of claim 7 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.
11. A method of claim 10 , wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.
12. A method of claim 11 , wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.
13. A method of claim 10 , wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.
14. A method of claim 13 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
15. A method of claim 7 , wherein the light is an LED.
16. A method of claim 1 , wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.
17. A method of claim 1 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.
18. A method of claim 17 , wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
19. A method of claim 1 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.
20. A method of claim 1 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.
21. A method of claim 20 , wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
22. A method of providing a lighting control signal, comprising:
providing a processor;
providing memory;
providing a light;
providing a data input;
providing a user interface; and
using the processor to access a table stored in the memory to determine a control signal for the light, wherein the processor accesses the table to determine the control signal and wherein the table stores a nonlinear relationship between the data input and the control signal.
23. A method of claim 22 , wherein the table stores a function that defines the nonlinear relationship.
24. A method of claim 22 , wherein the user interface permits a user to modify a parameter of the function.
25. A method of claim 24 , wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a PWM parameter and a scaling factor.
26. A method of claim 22 , further comprising using the user interface to modify the table.
27. A method of claim 22 , further comprising using the user interface to select a table from a plurality of available tables.
28. A method of claim 23 , wherein the function defines a relationship between the data input and the control signal that increases continually throughout the range of the data input.
29. A method of claim 22 , wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.
30. A method of claim 22 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
31. A method of claim 22 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.
32. A method of claim 22 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
33. A method of claim 22 , wherein the light is an LED.
34. A method of claim 22 , wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.
35. A method of claim 22 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
36. A method of claim 35 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
37. A method of claim 35 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.
38. A method of claim 37 , wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.
39. A method of claim 38 , wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.
40. A method of claim 38 , wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.
41. A method of claim 40 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
42. A method of claim 22 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.
43. A method of claim 42 , wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
44. A method of claim 22 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.
45. A method of claim 22 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.
46. A method of claim 45 , wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
47. A method of providing control of a light, comprising:
providing a conversion module having a processor for applying a nonlinear relationship to convert a data input to an ouput control signal for the light to account for the response of a viewer of the light to varying light levels.
48. A method of claim 47 , wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.
49. A method of claim 47 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
50. A method of claim 47 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.
51. A method of claim 47 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
52. A method of claim 47 , wherein the light is an LED.
53. A method of claim 47 wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.
54. A method of claim 53 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
55. A method of claim 53 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
56. A method of claim 53 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.
57. A method of claim 56 , wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.
58. A method of claim 57 , wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.
59. A method of claim 57 , wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.
60. A method of claim 59 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
61. A method of claim 53 , wherein the light is an LED.
62. A method of claim 47 , wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.
63. A method of claim 47 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.
64. A method of claim 63 , wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
65. A method of claim 47 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.
66. A method of claim 47 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.
67. A method of claim 66 , wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
68. A system for controlling a light, comprising:
a control module for generating an output control signal to control the output of a light; and
a conversion module for converting a data input to the output control, wherein the conversion module converts data inputs to output control signals in a nonlinear relationship to account for the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light.
69. A system of claim 68 , wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.
70. A system of claim 68 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
71. A system of claim 68 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.
72. A system of claim 68 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
73. A system of claim 68 , wherein the light is an LED.
74. A system of claim 68 , wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.
75. A system of claim 74 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
76. A system of claim 74 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
77. A system of claim 74 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.
78. A system of claim 77 , wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.
79. A system of claim 78 , wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.
80. A system of claim 77 , wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.
81. A system of claim 80 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
82. A system of claim 74 , wherein the light is an LED.
83. A system of claim 68 , wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.
84. A system of claim 68 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.
85. A system of claim 84 , wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
86. A system of claim 68 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.
87. A system of claim 68 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.
88. A system of claim 87 , wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
89. A system of providing a lighting control signal, comprising:
a processor;
a memory;
a light;
a data input facility; and
a user interface, wherein the user interface permits a user to use the processor to access a table stored in the memory to determine a control signal for the light, wherein the processor can access the table to determine the control signal and wherein the table can store a nonlinear relationship between the data input and the control signal.
90. A system of claim 89 , wherein the table stores a function that defines the nonlinear relationship.
91. A system of claim 89 , wherein the user interface permits a user to modify a parameter of the function.
92. A system of claim 91 , wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a PWM parameter and a scaling factor.
93. A system of claim 89 , further comprising using the user interface to modify the table.
94. A system of claim 89 , further comprising using the user interface to select a table from a plurality of available tables.
95. A system of claim 90 , wherein the function defines a relationship between the data input and the control signal that increases continually throughout the range of the data input.
96. A system of claim 89 , wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.
97. A system of claim 89 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
98. A system of claim 89 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.
99. A system of claim 89 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
100. A system of claim 89 , wherein the light is an LED.
101. A system of claim 89 , wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.
102. A system of claim 89 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
103. A system of claim 102 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
104. A system of claim 102 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.
105. A system of claim 104 , wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.
106. A system of claim 105 , wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.
107. A system of claim 104 , wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.
108. A system of claim 107 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
109. A system of claim 89 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.
110. A system of claim 109 , wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
111. A system of claim 89 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.
112. A system of claim 89 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.
113. A system of claim 112 , wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
114. A system of providing control of a light, comprising:
a conversion module having a processor for applying a nonlinear relationship to convert a data input to an ouput control signal for the light to account for the response of a viewer of the light to varying light levels.
115. A system of claim 114 , wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.
116. A system of claim 114 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
117. A system of claim 114 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.
118. A system of claim 114 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
119. A system of claim 114 , wherein the light is an LED.
120. A system of claim 114 wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.
121. A system of claim 120 , wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.
122. A system of claim 120 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
123. A system of claim 120 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.
124. A system of claim 123 , wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.
125. A system of claim 124 , wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.
126. A system of claim 123 , wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.
127. A system of claim 126 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.
128. A system of claim 120 , wherein the light is an LED.
129. A system of claim 114 , wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.
130. A system of claim 114 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.
131. A system of claim 130 , wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.
132. A system of claim 114 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.
133. A system of claim 114 , wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.
134. A system of claim 133 , wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.